What impact does a temperature inversion generally have on radar signals?

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Temperature inversions can significantly affect radar signals, primarily through the phenomenon of signal refraction. When warm air overlays cooler air near the ground, it creates a layer that can bend radar signals, causing them to follow a curved path rather than traveling straight out. This can lead to either the enhancement or degradation of signal detection depending on various factors, such as the specific conditions of the inversion and the radar system in use.

By deflecting radar signals, temperature inversions can cause radar to pick up returns from targets that are at different altitudes than expected, or, conversely, lead to issues where radar cannot detect objects that would normally be within its range if not for the atmospheric conditions. This bending of signals is central to understanding how inversions influence radar and can result in both false returns and missed detections, thereby affecting air traffic control operations.